Lanka Hospitals PLC has opened its doors to foreign student nurses from the Asian region. Following an agreement with the Maldivian government, from 2008 onwards, two batches of approximately 30 Maldivian student nurses every year are given clinical training at Lanka Hospitals.  

In the long term bi-lateral corporation between Sri Lanka and the Maldives, our country has continually extended health care support to its SAARC neighbour. Since 2008, The Faculty of Health Sciences and Maldivian College of Higher Education in Maldives (now Maldives National University) have sought Lanka Hospitals’ unparalleled clinical education support for its student nurses. It is based on this strong foundation of healthcare that the Maldivian National University signed up with Lanka Hospitals in a training course titled Clinical placement for Diploma in nursing.

Coordinator of Lanka Hospitals Education Center, Deputy Chief Matron Chitra Damayanthi stated that the hospital is planning similar agreements for student nurse training and advanced training for trained nurses with several other countries and private medical institutions, among them Seychelles, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

The ongoing training of student nurses from other countries, is an endorsement of the high level of training and professionalism of the Lanka Hospitals Nurses Training School (LHNTS).

The Sri Lankan trainee nurses also are absorbed into the hospital nursescadreduring their training period as trainees to complement the existing cadre of fully trained nurses.

While the Hospital is committed to taking their nursestraining beyond our shores and become a regional centre for nurses’training, it is alsoproud to have contributed 37 of its professionally trained nurses to the National Healthcare Services sector recently.

Owing to Lanka Hospitals’ Nurses’ Training School (LHNTS) today Lanka Hospitals has 392 fully trained nurses, with111 assisting student nurses (under supervision) serving in every area of the hospital. Chief Matron Sheila Rajapakse says, “Our nursing structure is made up of graduate nurses coming from reputed universities, government hospitals and military hospitals. Apart from this, every year at least 35 qualified nurses pass out for service from Lanka Hospitals’ Nurses’ Training School. All clinical areas such as Renal Care, Heart Centre, IVF Centre, main theatres, Cathlab etc. are functioning very well at present with their contribution.”

While LHNTS ensures that Lanka Hospitals never has a shortage of professionally trained nursing staff it also ensures that the private medical sector has a readily available source of professionally qualified nurses. Principal – Lanka Hospitals’ Nurses’ Training School - Mrs. Sheila Adhikari with 40 years’ experience in the government healthcare sector further added “It is because we have a robust contingency plan in clinical care services that we can continue to fortify our existing staff while contributing to the private sector.” Ms. Adhikari also stated “One of the reasons our trained nurses are highly sought after is because all tutors at the LHNTS are government qualified and well experienced in the healthcare sector in Sri Lanka and overseas.”

Medical Superintendent Dr.Sunil Ratnapreya added “every year we have approximately 50 students enrolling to pass out as nurses. Owing to the demand by students for us to accept more and the industry for more of our nurses with their high calibre of professionalism, we increased enrolments this year to 90 students with the expansion of necessary learning facilities.”

Helen Jeannie Nicette from Seychelles, who underwent a coronary artery bypass graft at the hospital is a retired nurse herself in her country Seychelles. Her eloquent words are a fitting tribute to the professionalism, commitment anddedication of Lanka Hospitals PLC.

 “The service in the hospital is excellent. It reminds me of long ago when I was a nurse. They have the same standard, their team work and communications is excellent. They tell me every little thing before it is done, so I know what to expect. I had no major fears although my operations was a very serious one. I felt at home and in just two days after the operation, I was on my feet. Their team work is excellent. I recommend people to come here.